The seven parties vying to be in Parliament after Saturday's election faced off in TVNZ’s final election debate, with every question coming from the voters.
The Q+A People’s Debate, moderated by Jack Tame, was live on TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+, accompanied by live coverage here on 1News.co.nz.
All seven parties that qualified under TVNZ’s debate criteria took part.
National deputy leader Nicola Willis and Labour campaign chairperson Kieran McAnulty faced ACT leader David Seymour, NZ First deputy leader Shane Jones, Greens co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick and Opportunity leader Qiulae Wong.
Te Pāti Māori's Oriini Kaipara pulled out earlier today but her spotwas taken by the party's Hauraki-Waikato MP Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke.
The debate comes with well over a million people having already voted and the latest 1News Verian poll showing 9% of voters had yet to decide who to back at the start of the week.
The election is on a knife edge with the poll results showing neither the right or left blocs would have a majority, meaning either National or Labour would need the support of Opportunity as well as their traditional partners to form a government.
Tame wrote when announcing the debate that it was the last chance for voters to put questions to politicians before the election on November 7.
“This will be the last big chance the politicians have to win voters over,” he said.
Questions came from an online form, from video submissions sent in response to social media calls, and from 1News reporters who put the question to people on the street. A large audience will be in the studio.
See where you stand on the parties' policies with Vote Compass at 1News.co.nz/VoteCompass
The debate fills the slot TVNZ had planned for a second leaders’ debate, which National leader Christopher Luxon declined to take part in.
It follows the 1News Leaders Debate between Luxon and Labour leader Chris Hipkins on October 6, the Multi-Party Debate on October 13 and the Kaupapa Māori Debate on October 26.
Tame said that while early voting had become more popular, more than a million people were still expected to wait until election day on Saturday to cast their vote. Polling places open from 9am to 7pm on the day.
Results will come in from 7pm on Saturday night - watch live on TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+ and follow live coverage on 1News.co.nz.
SHARE ME